The Playbook Podcast April 14, 2025: Inside the chaos at HHS
Apr 14, 2025
Adam Cancryn, a POLITICO White House reporter, delves into the turmoil at the Department of Health and Human Services after Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership changes. He discusses the staggering layoffs of over 10,000 employees and how cutting data collection jeopardizes public health policy. The conversation touches on the resultant drop in employee morale and the chaos this creates within the agency. Additionally, they touch on Meta’s ongoing antitrust trial and President Trump's immigration discussion with El Salvador's president, linking these events to larger political shifts.
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Chaos at HHS
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership at HHS has led to 10,000 layoffs, impacting data collection and research.
- This follows 10,000 incentivized departures, creating chaos and dysfunction within the agency.
Public Health Implications
- Cuts at HHS impact data collection crucial for tracking health issues, like drug-resistant gonorrhea and carbon monoxide poisoning.
- The federal government is often the only entity capable of such nationwide tracking.
Data Collection and Chronic Diseases
- Ironically, cuts to data collection hinder RFK Jr.'s goal of reducing chronic diseases.
- Tracking data is essential for understanding and addressing these issues effectively.